A study on the validity of a task complexity measure for emergency operating procedures of nuclear power plants—Comparing task complexity scores with two sets of operator response time data obtained under a simulated SGTR

Abstract

The appropriateness of the task complexity (TACOM) measure that can quantify the complexity of procedural tasks was validated in this study. To this end, two sets of task performance time data that have been extracted under the simulated steam generator tube rupture (SGTR) conditions of the reference nuclear power plant (NPP) A and B were compared with the associated TACOM scores. As a result, it was observed that two sets of task performance time data seem to be soundly explained by the associated TACOM scores. Although more additional activities should be conducted to clarify the appropriateness of the TACOM measure, the result of this study provides a crucial clue supporting that the complexity of emergency tasks stipulated in emergency operating procedures (EOPs) can be properly quantified by the TACOM measure.